Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/92

Noon, and it wants Three Hours of that yet. I do not mind that, ſaid I; Perſons of Honour, and of their Word, are rather before their Time than after, But I forget that in amuſing my ſelf with Reaſoning with you, I give into the Faults of your prattling Barbers; ha’ done, ha’ done, ſhave me.

The more haſte I was in, the leſs haſte he made. He laid down bis Razor, and took up his Aſtrolabe; this done, he e’en laid down his Aſtrolabe,and took up his Razor again.

Here the Appearance of Day made Scheherazade ſilent; but next Night ſhe purſued the ſame Thread thus.

THE Barber, continued the lame young Man, quitted his Razor again, and took up his Aſtrolabe a ſecond time; and ſo left me half ſhaved to go and ſee preciſely what a Clock it was. Back he came, and then, Sir, ſaid he, I knew I was not miſtaken, it wants three Hours of Noon, I’m ſure of it, or elſe all the Rules of Aſtronomy are falſe, Juft Heaven, cried I, my Patience is at an End, I can forbear no longer. You curſed Barber, you Barber of Miſchief, I do not know what holds me from falling upon you, and ſtrangling you. Softly, Sir, ſaid he very calmly, without being moved by my Paſſion; you are not afraid of a Relapſe; do not be in a Paſſion, I am going to ſerve you this Minute. In ſpeaking theſe Words, he clapped his Aſtrolabe in his Caſe, and took up his Razor, Which he had fixed to his Belt, and fell a ſhaving again; but all the while he ſhaved, the Dog cou’d not forbear prattling. If you pleaſe, Sir, ſaid he, to tell me, what Buſineſs ’tis you’re going about at Noon, I could give you ſome Advice that may be of Uſe to you. To ſatisfie the Fellow, I to!d him, I was going to meet ſome Friends who ware to regale me at Noon, and make merry with me upon the Recovery of my Health.

When the Barber heard me talk of regaling; God bleſs

You, this Day as well as all other Days, cried he; you put me in mind that Yeſterday I invited Four or Five Friends to come and eat with me as this Day; indecd I had forgot it, and I have as yet made no Preparation for them. Do not let that trouble you, ſaid I, though I dine abroad,